a thousande shall fall beside thee and ten thousande at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee yea with thine eyes shalte thou beholde and see the rewarde of the vngodly God beginneth iudgement at his owne house for he sendeth tribulations and afflictions vnto his church If ye be rayled vppon for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirite of glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you one theyr part he is euill spoken of but one your partes he is glorified see that none of you suffer as a murtherer or as a theife or an euil doer or as a busie bodie in other mens matters if any suffer as a christian maÌ„ let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God on his behalfe for the time is come y e iudgement must begin at the house of God if it first begin at vs what shal the end be of theÌ„ which beleue not the gospell of God and if the righteous scasely be saued where shal the vngodly sinner appeare wherfore let them that suffer according to y e will of God commit their soules to him with well doing as vnto a faithful creator Riches helpeth not in y e day of veÌ„geaunce but righteousnes deliuereth from death the righteousnes of the iust shall deliuer them but the wicked shalbe taken in their owne vngodlines If we had truely iudged our selues we shoulde not haue bene iudged but when we are iudged of the Lord we are chastened because we should not be damned with the world Uerely verely I say vnto you the tyme shall come and now is when the dead shall heare y e voyce of the sonne of God and they that heare shall liue for as the father hath life himselfe so likewise hath he geuen to the sonne to haue life in hymselfe and hath geuen hym power also to iudge in that he is the sonne of man Maruaile not at this the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come forth they that haue done good into the resurrection of life and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrectioÌ„ of damnatioÌ„ For God so loued y e world y t he hath geueÌ„ his only son y e none y t beleue in him should perish but should haue euerlasting life for God seÌ„t not his son into y e world to condemne the world but that the world through hym myght be saued he that beleueth on hym shall not be condeÌ„ned but he that beleueth not is condeÌ„ned already because he beleueth not in the name of the only sonne of God He that refuseth me and receaueth not my wordes hath one that iudgeth hym the wordes that I haue spoken they shall iudge hym in y e last day There shall goe a fire before hym and burne hys enemies on euery side hys lightnes gaue shine vnto the worlde the earth saw it and was afrayd The Lords comming shalbe heard like a great noyse froÌ„ the Citie and shall reward hys enemyes on a sodayne euen as the trauayling of a wife wheÌ„ she bringeth forth a maÌ„ childe or euer she suffer the paine of the birth and anguish of the trauayle The night is passed and the day is come nye let vs therefore cast away the dedes of darkenes and let vs put on the armour of light Let vs walke honestly as it were in the day light not in eating and drinking neither in foolishnes as strife and enuiyng but put ye on y e Lord Iesus Christ and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes of it Of y e times and seasons brethren ye haue no neede that I write vnto you for ye your selues know perfectly that the day of the Lord shal come euen as a theife in y e night when they shall say peace and no daunger then commeth on them sodayne destruction as the trauayling of a woman with childe and they shall not escape therfore let vs not sleepe but watch diligently for the comming of the Lord that at our calling we may be found occupied in all God exercises least being found idell we perish in our owne iniquitie and so come to destruction both of body soule Examine therefore euery maÌ„ amoÌ„g your selues and so spende y e dayes of thys troublesome pilgrimage that in y e ende we may come and appeare at y e generall day before y e eternall iudge who shall iudge all flesh according to theyr desartes and let vs most chiefely pray vnto God so to ayde vs wyth hys holy spirit against the temptacions of Sathan that at our appearance we may be found lawdable and glorious in the sight of that most pure and imaculate lambe Iesus Christ and to receaue y e blessed benediction when he shal say come ye blessed children into my euerlasting kingdome prepared for you from y e beginning of the world And to y e reprobate wicked ones goe ye wicked into the infernall hell prepared for you the deuill and his aungels Let all faithfull hartes pray vnto God and alwayes glorify his most blessed name vnto the which God be all glory power and dominion for euer and euer AmeÌ„ A Smalle reward I looke to haue Of such as do the truth despise No whit at all I mynde to craue But further truth in any wise All flesh is frayle and soone doth rotte As doth the flower in the fielde When man is gonne full soone forgot Therefore in tyme to truth do yelde Lament all flesh that liuing be With brinish teares and blubbrid eyen Then after death you soone shall see The christall glasse of light to shine Which glasse is Christ our Sauiour That for vs all his bloud hath shed Yelde vnto him all might and power Our only ioy and supreme head Let fickle fancie not you moue From him which can both kill and saue For like as gold so will he proue If light you way to late to craue FINIS Eccl. 14 Eccl. 16 Eccle. 10. Oseas 5. Iohn 18. Psal. 15. Ezech. 12. 1. Thess. 5 The property of the viper is the femall biteth of the males head and the yong gnaweth themselues out of their dammes belly Chitofell Aiax 2. Esd. 13. Prou. 19 Deut. 19. Prou. 17. By the Asse is meÌ„t the cruell Antechristians Iohn 12 Mark 13 Luk. 12 Rom. 8 Prou. 27. Tullius Augustinus Ambrosius Ambrosius Gen. 34. 1. Cor. 10. 1. Cor. 7. 1. Cor. 6. Heb. 13. 1. Cor. 5. Augustiâ—us Tullius Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Luk. 18. Dan. 13. Math. 14 Prouer. 6. Eccle. 23. Rom. 1. Hieronimus Luke 15. Abessa of BetheleÌ„ was iudge in Israell about thys tyme. ReguÌ„ 16. â— Reg. 13. Iudit 13. Gen. 9. Ouid. lib. 14. Iudges 17 Cor. 6. Tullius Ecclesia Boctius Eccle. 31. Osea Luk. 21. Eccle. 37. Ephe. 5. Prou. 31. Prou. 23. Eccle. 31. Rom. 12. Eccle. 23. Esau. * Heb. 12 Gen. 25. Exod. 16. Luk. 16. Percius in hys Satires Cato â—
most doth him annoy and so of death he hath his fill ¶ The signification HE which striketh with death behind him signifieth enuiousnes against the quiet state of the faithfull and in hoping by enuie to destroy death is hys reward the other by constaÌ„t faith in Christ is preserued by the sword which is the word of God and so ouercoÌ„meth enuie the Angell behind hym is Gods prouident loue which neuer faileth all those that trust in hym THe vngodly is caste downe for his iniquitie but the righteous hath a good hope euen in death A pacient maÌ„ is better then one stroÌ„g he that can rule him selfe is more worth then he that winneth a citie Thorow enuie Acis was slaine by the monster Poliphemus because he would haue rauished Galathe the wife of Acis Also the two sonnes of king Phillip of Macedon Percius Demetrius thorow enuie sought eche others death and were both slaine Also Nessus deceaued Hercules of Dianira at a riuer and being on the other side would haue violated her wherby Hercules shotte an arrowe through his body Nessus perceauing him selfe to haue his deathes wound gaue a venomed shirte to Dianira saying that to whom soeuer she gaue that shirte his loue should neuer depart from her so that by the sayd shirte Hercules was destroyed Thus enuie hath vndone many a man and woman brought theÌ„ to vtter destruction O wretched enuie and daughter to pride which neuer seeth the end of thy miseries thou desirest to see the people in misery and then thou reioycest and art glad when that thy neighbour decayeth by thee neither from thee may come any profite neither in this world nor in the world to come To Serpent like I may compare those greedie wolues that lambes deuoure Awayting still to catch in snare all such as gette they may by power ¶ The signification THe Dragon signifieth the enemie to all that professe the worde of God the Cardinall persecution or a persecutor of the same the Fryer murther the sheepe which are a killing signifieth the professours of Christ from the beginning of the worlde to these present dayes ENuie is blinde can doe nothing but dispraise vertue it is a scabbe of thys world to haue enuy at vertue O y e miserable conditions of people that are to bee gouerned amoÌ„g whom diligeÌ„ce is hated negligence is reproued where sharpnes is perillous liberalitie thaÌ„keles coÌ„municatioÌ„ deceatfull pernitious flattery euery mans couÌ„tenance familiar many mens mindes offended waite to hurt priuily faire wordes openly wheÌ„ officers be coÌ„ming they tary for theÌ„ while they be present they do await on theÌ„ being out of authoritie al do forsake theÌ„ All other sinnes are not so pestiferous as enuy for y e lecherous by his sinne getteth somtime a frend or louer but it may be accoÌ„pted a miserable deadly kind of frendship The couetous by his vsury getteth goods possessions The negligent by his sloth oftentimes hath peace because he medleth with nothing The proud of such as he is him self is often praysed If he be rich of the poore for feare or if he hath ought for that which he hath The irious or wrathfull maÌ„ is often feared The glutton by filling hys panch of sweete and delicate meates Thus among all sinnes enuie is most pernitious and to be accompted most miserable When daintie dames hath whole delight with proude attyre them selues to ray Pirasmos shineth in the sight of glittering glasse such fooles to fray ¶ The signification THe woman signifieth pride the glasse in her hand flattery or deceate the deuill behinde her temptation the death head which she setteth her foote on signifieth forgetfulnes of the life to come wherby commeth destruction TAke heede y t thou fall not into pride least thou perishe with such as before haue offended Example of Lucifer which for his pride was cast down into y e infernal hell Also Adam by traÌ„sgression fell thorow y e subtill intisinges of the Serpent Agar the seruant of Sara thorow pride disdained her mistres because of a childe that she had by Abraham therefore she was driuen to flie into the wildernes by the way that lyeth to Sur. Also Membroth or Nimrod thorow pride caused the Tower of Babell to bee builded And the Lorde sayd Beholde the people is one and they haue all one language Come let vs goe downe and confound their language that euery one vnderstand not hys neighbours speach And so the Lorde scattered them from that place into the vpper face of all the earth It is therfore to be vnderstanded y e pride surmouÌ„ting folly all sinne is shame seruitudâ— Pharao king of Egypt through hys obstinate pride was drowned in the red sea all his hoste so y t there remained not one of theÌ„ Haman for his pride was haÌ„ged on y e gallowes that he had ordayned for Mardocheus Abimilech because a womaÌ„ smote him on y e head with a peece of a milstone therwith brake his braine panne as he approched the Tower of Thebez he therefore caused his harnesse bearer to runne him through y e body for that it should not be sayd y t a woman had slaine him Also Nabuchadonozor was transformed into a dumbe beast for the space of vij yeares because he so proudly exalted him selfe saying Thys is the great Citie of Babylon which J my selfe with my power and strength haue made The rich to prayse in some respecte as from all vice will soone refraine But such as Pauper doe detecte those gestes with Diues must take paine ¶ The signification THe rich man signifieth a proude maÌ„ couetous such a one as careth for no poore man but for such as hym lyketh to many such are not good in a coÌ„mon wealth the poore man signifieth the pouertie generall whose petitions of such are not heard nor once relieued ANtiochus also for hys pride was greatly punished of God smitten with such a disease of y t which he might not be healed Nicanor thorowe pride was discoÌ„fited ouercome of y e Iewes Phaeton because he toke vpon him to gouerne y e chariot of his father Phâ—bus he therfore had a great fall Dedalus was also drowned because he tooke vppon him to flie so hie in the ayre that the force of the sunne beames melted hys magicall winges in refusing his father Icarus counsell Dauid the kyng after that hee had numbred the people his hart smote hym saying I haue sinned exceedingly in that which I haue done Iezabell proudly sought the death of the Prophets and therfore the Lorde sent Iehu to Iezraell And wheÌ„ Iehu was come to Iezraell Iezabell heard of it and starched her face and tyred her head and looked out at a window And as Iehu entred at the gate she sayd had Zimri peace which slue hys maister And he lift vp his eyes to the window and sayd Who is of
neuer haue escaped vndestroyed but God so preserued him that he escaped y t death and those princes which hoped that after his death to haue ruled borne their owne sway were of the lions vtterly destroyed this is the ende of all vayne hope Therfore as there is an infallible and true god so is there also but one firme and true faith and in like one hope and one charitie Let all christians therfore pray vnto God to send his holy spirite amongeâ—t vs and that we may be thankful for his inestimable benefites daily bestowed vpon vs lest the like mischiefe happen vnto vs now present as by example hathe happened vnto those the which â—aue bene refusers of the same ⧠The description of Charitie GOd is charitie he that dwelleth in charitie dwelleth in God and God in hym Here in is also loue perfect in vs that we should haue trust in the day of iudgement The charitie of God is declared vnto vs for he hath sent his sonne alredy into the world to redeme the world from sinne death and hell and hath payde for our raunsome euen his most precious bloud vpon the crosse for vs miserable creatures els had we bene vtterly destroyed for euer No man ascended vp into heauen but he that came downe from heauen And as Moyses lifted vp the Serpent in the wildernes euen so must the sonne of man be lifted vp that none that beleue in him perish but haue eternall life Little children ye are of God and haue ouercome the world for greater is he that is in you then he that is in the worlde he the which is prince of the worlde is the diuell But the charitable louing and merciful sauiour he is the king of heauen and of all charitable people but suche as say that workes onely iustifieth from sinne do not onely and vtterly deny Christ to be come in the flesh but also they deny and depriue them selues from the euerlasting ioy and heauenly felicitie and although workes are nedefull and necessary yet beyng without faith hope charitie nothing at all auayleth In beleuyng that all such workes as are done truely and not fainedly with faith ioyned are most wholesome and profitable Hope in tarying the good will and pleasure of God neuer thinkyng the Of Charitie ¶ The signification AS many as intend to be pertakers with Christ his Apostels must vse this worke of charitie which is to fede the hungry to clothe the naked to harbor the harbourles lodge the stranger to visite the sicke and to relieue the prisoners and poore afflicted members of Christ this is the dueties of all faithfull people tyme long of this our abode and pilgrimage Charitie in all thinges nourishing and ready to cherish all such as lacke and are in necessitie and so continuyng till it shall please the Lord to chaunge vs into a better life which is most glorious for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more seyng we are reconciled we shalbe preserued by his life not onely so but we also ioy in God by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ by whome we haue receyued the attonement Nothing ought to seperate vs from the charitie of God for whatsoeuer he be y t seeth what Christ hath done for him cannot but beleue that God loueth hym and with all his soule mynde and will ought to loue god agayne for thorough his loue that loueth vs we ouercome strongly the infirmity of our corrupt and filthy flesh yea I am sure that neither death neither life neither aungels neither rule neither power neither thinges present neither thinges to come neither hie neither low neither any other creature shall be able to depart any faithfull beleuer from the loue of God shewed in Christ Iesu our Lord. For the eternal wisdome of God was and is such that before the world began appointed certayne that should professe set forth the gospel of his sonne euen to the worlds ende that is they are not onely called but also elected and chosen All the commaundementes do lead vs to charitie for the ende of the commaundementes is loue the which commeth of a pure hart and of a good coÌ„science and of fayth vnfayned for the which thynges some haue erred and haue turned vnto vayne iangelyng because they would be doctours in the Scriptures and yet vnderstand not what they speake neither wherof they affirme If this part of Scripture were well considered of all such frantike heades the which taketh vpon them to interprete the scriptures according to their owne wilfull myndes I doo not doubt but suche would be better aduised in considering their dueties not onely to their princes and gouernours but also to the omnipotent God who is able in a moment clearely to seclude and cutte of such vnprofitable impes For as Corach Dathan and Abiram were destroyed for their rebellioÌ„ against Moses Gods seruaunt in resisting the ordinaunces and lawes before commaunded they as men the whiche would seme wiser in their doyng then Moses which had the firme and true law in dede were by the Lord so greuously plaged that the earth opened and they all went downe into hell suche is the rewarde of all disobedient children Watche ye stande fast in fayth quit you like men and be strong and let your busines be done in loue My little children these things write I vnto you that ye sinne not if any maÌ„ sinne yet we haue an aduocate with y e father Iesus Christ which is righteous and he it is that obtayneth grace for our synnes not for our sinnes onely but for the synnes of the whole worlde And hereby we are sure that we knowe him if we keepe his commaundementes He that saith I know him and keepe his commaundements is a lyer and the veritie is not in him Owe nothing to any man but to loue one an other with charitable loue I therefore which am in bondes for the lordes sake exhort you that we walke worthy of the vocation wherwith you are called in all humblenes of minde and meekenes and long suffering forbearing one an other and forgeuyng one an other through loue and that you be diligent to kepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bonde of peace beyng one body and one spirite euen as you are called in one hope of your callyng Let there be one Lord one fayth one baptisme one God and father of all which is aboue all and in you all Let vs be rooted in charitie that is let vs consider one an other to prouoke vnto loue to do good workes and let vs forsake the fellowship that we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhorte one another and that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth nye in this part is shewed our duetie if we wil be pertakers of the mercy before rehersed But if we sinne willinglingly after that
shalt put thine hand with y e wicked to be an vnrighteous witnes The law doth forbid to iudge of a man except he be knowne to be such a one as hath bene before either an extorcioner or a periured person or such a one as hath bene before an vtter enemy to all good lawes and orders he that iudgeth his brother iudgeth the law What art thou that iudgest an other Go to now ye that say to day and to morrow let vs go into such a citie and continue there a yere and buy and sell and winne and yet cannot ye tell what shall happen on the morrow for what thing is your lyfe it is euen a vapour that appeareth for a little tyme and then vanisheth away for that ye ought to say if the Lord will and if we lyue let vs do this or that but now ye reioyce in your bostinges all such reioysings is euill therefore to hym that knoweth how to do good and doth it not to hym it is sinne he that backbiteth or iudgeth his brother doth iudge the lawe to be euil for the law forbiddeth so to do He that knoweth and yet doth not is without excuse for God hath promised no mercy but to thē that wil do their good will Herein is not onely an excellent admonition vnto worldly iudges but also among all estates so that whatsoeuer he be that by any meanes goeth about to dislike or misuse vnto that person is promised the iust iudgement of God the which hath power to destroy both body soule Thou shalt not fauour y e poore nor honour the mighty but in righteousnes thou shalte iudge thy neighbour thou shalt not go vp and doune as a priuy accuser among y e people neither shalt thou stand against the bloud of thy neyghbour that thou beare no sinne for his sake My sonne forget not thou my law but see that thine hart kepe my commaundements let mercy and faithfulnes neuer go from thee bynd them about thy necke and write them in the tables of thine harte so shalt thou fynde fauour and good vnderstandyng in the sight of God and man Deliuer him that suffreth wrong from the hand of y e oppressor and be not faint harted when thou sittest in iudgement Be mercifull vnto the fatherles as a father be in stede of an husband vnto their mother so shalt thou be an obedient sonne of the highest and he shall loue thee more then thy mother doth At the mouth of two or thre witnesses shall he that is worthy of death dye and at the mouth of one witnes let no man die Beware of bribery and giftes for rewardes and giftes blynde the eyes of the wise and make him domme that he cānot tell men their faultes The Kite in the ayre knoweth her tyme the turtle the Storke and the swalow do come at their seasons my people knowe not theyr lordes iudgemēt A good man will not in his frendes cause do against a weale publike against hys othe nor agaynst the trust which is put in hym for he layeth aside the personage of a frend when he taketh on hym a iudges office The emperor Alexander would neuer suffer to be solde the office of a iudge or great authoritie in y e execution of lawes saying nedes must he sel that doth buy And I wil not let that there shal be merchants of gouernance which if I do suffer I may not condemne for I am ashamed to punish a mā that buyeth and selleth Themistocles being the chief iudge in Athence when there came to hym a great musitian which desired of hym a thyng somewhat against iustice Themistocles aunswered if in singing thou doost not regarde number and tyme thou art not worthy to be called a good musitian nor I a good Iudge if I would preferre before the lawes the priuate fauour of any one person The children of Israell cried out vnto Samuell against his two sonnes the whiche he had made to be rulers of his people because they did peruert y e law and were corrupt with rewardes whose names were Ioell and Abia and required a kyng consider the misery the which hath alwayes happened among cruel and tyrannous iudges and also the happy successe of good godly maiestrates Iudges and other officers and then may it plainely be perceiued to whome Gods mercy is shewed for as he is a god of truth so is he also in vsing hys iustice to the wicked damnation and to the other most happy saluation ⧠The description of Veritie CHrist is the truth and he is also called the spirite of truth not onely because he is true but bicause he maketh y e name into whome he entreth true where as all they do without the spirite is none other thing but lies Also S. Peter saith that all diligence ought to be shewed among christians And hereunto geue all diligence in your fayth ministryng vertue in vertue knowledge in knowledge temperaunce in temperance pacience in pacience godlines in godlines brotherly kindnes in brotherly kindnes loue for if these thinges be among you are plenteous they will make you that ye neyther shall be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ. But he y t lacketh these things is blinde and gropeth for the way with his hand and hath forgotten that he was purged from hys olde sinne as many as lacketh these and such like workes are blynde and vnderstandeth not what the faith of Christ meaneth and also without the mercy of Iesus Christ are vtterly secluded from all heauenly felicity which felicitie cannot be gotten of suche with out harty prayers in the tyme of this transitory abode vpon earth and as many as haue in them the motions of these godly and fruitfull vertues may be most assured to be the very elect and that they haue the true faith so long as they cōtinue therin no state no time no florishing power no monarchie nothyng within the circuite of the whole earth may once be compared to the prosperous estate and endeles felicitie of those and such as haue and do obey the liuing God Of Veritie The signification HE which sitteth on the raynebowe signifieth Christ and the sworde in his hande signifieth his wrath against the wycked the round compasse the worlde and those two climing the one a Pope and the other a Cardinall striuyng who shall be higheir and the Diuell which falleth headlong downe is Lucifer whiche through pride fel he which holdeth the world is death standing in the entrance of hell to receyue all such superbious liuers Hezekiah the sonne of Ahaz kyng of Iuda did raigne fiue and twenty yeares olde was he when he beganne to raigne and raigned nine twenty yeares in Ierusalem and he dyd that whiche was right in the syghte of the Lorde and therefore the Lorde prospered hym Teache me and I will holde my tounge and when I doo erre shewe me
where in Howe stedfast are thy woordes of truthe and whiche of you can rebuke or reproue them Be thou my Iudge O Lorde c. For thy louyng kindnes is euer before mine eyes and I will walke in thy truth c O shut not vp my soule with the sinners nor my life with the bloud thirsty in whose handes is wickednes and theyr right hands are full of gifts Good lucke haue thou with thine honoure ride on because of the worde of truth of mekenes and righteousnes and thy righte hand shall teache the terrible thinges But loe thou requiredst truth in the inwarde parts and shalt make me to vnderstand wisdome secretly Mercy and truth are met together righteousnes and peace haue kissed ech other truth shall florish out of the earth and righteousnes hath looked downe from heauen But thou o lord art full of compassion and mercy long suffering plenteous in goodnes truth My song shall be alwayes of the louing kindnes of the lord with my mouth will I euer be showing thy truth from generation to generation thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heauens O Lord y e very heauens shall prayse thy wonderous workes and thy truth in the congregation of saintes O Lord who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty lord is on euery side righteousnes and equitie is the habitation of thy seat mercy and truth shal go before thy face my truth and my mercy also shal be with him and in my name shal his horne be exalted neuerthelesse my louing kindnes will not I vtterly take from him nor suffer my truth to fayle Lord where are thine olde louing kindnes which thou swarest vnto Dauid in thy truth hys faythfullnes and truth shall be thy shilde and buckler It is a good thinge to geue thankes vnto the Lord and to sing prayses vnto thy name O moste hiest to tell of thy louing kindnes early in the morning and of thy truth in the night season the workes of his handes are veritie and iudgement all his commaundementes are true they stand fast for euer and euer and are done in truth and equitie O prayse the Lord all ye heathen praise him all ye nations for his mercifull kindnes is euer more and more toward vs and the truth of the Lord endureth for euer O take not the worde of truth vtterly out of my mouth for my hope is in thy iudgementes all thy commaundementes are true Thy truth also remayneth from one generation to an other thy righteousnes is an euerlasting righteousnes and thy lawe is the truth Be thou nigh at hand O Lorde for all thy commaundementes are true Thy word is true and is from euerlasting all thy iudgementes of thy righteousnes endureth for euer Doth not wisdome cry doth not vnderstanding put forth her voyce and say my throate shall be talking of thy truth and my lippes abhorre vngodlines A Iust man will tell the truth and show the thing that is right but a false witnesse deseueth A true mouth is euer cōstant but a dissembling tong is euer chaungeable the lord abhorreth lying lippes but they that labour for truth please him A false witnesse shall perish but he that is a true man boldely speaketh that he hath hard Haue I not warned thee very oft with counsaile and learnyng that I myght shew thee the truth and that thou with the veritie mightest aunswer them that send vnto thee Wo be vnto them that make vnrighteous lawes and deuise thinges which be to hard for to keepe where through my people are oppressed and the Innocentes of my people robbed of iudgement that wisdome may be theyr pray that they may rob the fatherlesse What will you do in time of visitation and when destruction shall come from farre To whom will ye runne for helpe and to whom will you geue your honoure that he may kepe it that when I with drawe my hande ye come not among the prisoners or lye among the dead c But faythfulnesse and truth shall they trust vnto yea vnto the lord the holy one of Israel And in mercy shall thy seate be prepared and he shal sit vpon it in the truth in the tabernacle of Dauid iudging and seking iudgement and making hast vnto righteousnes In that day shall this song be soung In the land of Iuda we haue a strong citie saluation shall God appoynt in steade of walles and bulwarkes open ye the gates that the righteous people which kepeth the truth may enter in there minde is set vppon thee because thou preseruest them in peace yea in peace because they put theyr trust in thee put ye your trust alwayes in the Lord for in the Lord God there is strength for euermore let all christians ioye in this heauenly comfort the which the holy prophet of God speaketh for although it be long agone since he spake it yet is it as fruitfull to al faythful christians now in these our dayes as euer it was before God graunt that the harts of al faythful christians may be thankfull for these his inestimable benefites and mercyes shewed vnto vs in these our dayes and therefore let vs reioyce with the Israelites and say God is oure righteousnes and truth and God hath deliuered vs from the fiery and cruell malice of sathan and al papistical doctrine wherby now hauing no let nor foes to disturbe vs may so diligently shew ourselues in ech vocation that thereby Gods name may be glorified and our soules refreshed with y e heauenly foode of immortall ioyes to the which eternall and liuing God be all honour and glory for euer and euer He that feareth God will do good and who so keepeth the law shall obtayne wisdome men that go about with lies will not remember her but men of truth shalbe found in her and shall prosper euen vnto the beholding of God And aboue all things pray the hyest that he wil lead thy way in faithfulnes truth The arrogant and stifnecked Phariseyes although they beleued not y e preaching of our Sauiour Christ yet they confessed him to be the truth saying maister we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God truely neither carest thou for any mā for thou regardest not the outward appearaunce of men tell vs therefore how thinkest thou is it lawfull that tribute be geuen vnto Cesar or not But Iesus perceaued theyr wickednes sayde why tempte ye me ye hipocrites shewe me the tribute money and they tooke him a penny and he sayde vnto them whose is thys Image and superscription they sayde vnto hym Cesars Then sayde he vnto them geue therefore vnto Cesar the thinges which are Cesars and vnto God those thynges that are Gods By thys Cesar is ment all temporall rulers to whome we ought to geue all thinges that the lawe of the countrey we be in bindeth vs to geue whether it be our goodes our life our childrē or
serue the Lorde in the truth seeke after hys wyll and doo the thyng that pleaseth him For God is gracious and mercifull he forgeueth sinnes in the tyme of trouble and is a defendour for all them that seeke hym in the truthe And we sawe the glorye of it as the glorye of the onelye begotten sonne full of grace and truthe If ye beleue not that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes Then sayde they vnto him what art thou and Iesus sayth vnto them euen the very same thing that I spake vnto you I haue many thinges to saye and to iudge of you yea and he that sent me is true then sayde hee to those Iewes whiche beleued on hym if ye continue in my worde then are ye my verye disciples and ye shall knowe the truth and the truth shall make you free but now ye goe about to kill me a man that hath tolde you the truth which I haue hearde of God why doo ye not knowe my speache euen because ye can not abyde the hearyng of my woorde ye are of your Father the Diuell and the lustes of your father will ye serue he was a murtherer from the beginnyng and abode not in the truth therefore ye beleue me not whiche of you rebuketh me of sinne if I say the truth why do ye not beleue me For this cause was I borne and for thys cause came I into the world that I should beare witnes of the truth and al that are of the truth heare my voyce I say the truth in Christ and I lye not if the truth of Christ be in me this reioysing shall not be takeÌ„ away froÌ„ me in the region of Achaia Wherfore because I loue you not God knoweth neuerthelesse what I do that will I do to cut away occasion that they might be found like vnto vs in that wherin they reioyce we can do nothing agaynst the truth but for the truth But let vs follow the truth in loue and in all thinges growe in him whiche is the head euen Christ. Let no maÌ„ deceiue you with vain words for because of such things coÌ„meth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience be not ye therefore companions of them Ye were sometime darkenes but now are ye light in the lord walke as children of light for the fruite of the spirite consisteth in all goodnes righteousnes and truth Study to shew thy selfe laudable vnto God a workeman that neadeth not to be ashamed distributing the word of God truely and iustly as for vngodly vanities of vices passe thou ouer them for they will encrease vnto greater vngodlinesse and theyr wordes shall freate euen as doth the disease of a canker of whose number is Himeneus and Pliletus which as coÌ„cerning the truth haue erred saying that the resurrection is passed al ready and do destroy the fayth of some but the sure ground of God standeth still hath this seale the lord knoweth them that are his and let euery man that calleth on Christ depart from his iniquitie This witnes is true wherefore rebuke thou them sharpely that they may be sounde in the fayth not taking heede to Iewishe fables and commaundements of men that turne away the truth If we say that we haue felowship with him and walke in darkenes we lye and do not the truth I haue not writteÌ„ vnto you as though ye knew not the truth but as though ye knewe it and knowe also that no lye commeth of truth God graunt al christian hearers and readers of his worde to be as well followers as hearers that after this life we may all raygne in the eternall and euerlasting kingdome with God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ to whome be all glory and dominion both now and euer The description of wisdome ANd the Lord spake vnto Moyses saying beholde I haue called by name Besalael the sone of Ury the sonne of Haâ—â—e of the tribe of Iuda and I haue filled him with the spirit of God in wisdome and vnderstanding in knowledge and in all maner of worke to finde out subtill feates and to worke in golde siluer and brasse And now harken O Israell vnto the ordinaunces and lawes which I teach you c. Kepe it therefore and do them for that is your wisdome The valiant and kingly Prophet Dauid in that he feared the Lord the Lord prospered hym and he behaued him selfe wisely in all his wayes and the Lord was with hym wherefore when Same sawe that he was so exceding wife he was afrayde of Dauid The dayes of Dauid drewe nye that he shoulde dye and he charged Salomon his sonne saying I go the way of all the world be thou strong therefore and shew thy selfe a man Kepe thou the watch of y e Lord thy God that thou walke in his wayes and keepe his statutes and his precepts his iudgementes and his testimonies euen as it is written in the lawe of Moyses that thou mayst prosper in all y t thou dooste and in euery thing that thou medlest wiâ—h all concerning Ioab the sonne of Zarine in that he slewe the two capitaines Abner and Amasa Deale with hym therefore according vnto wisdome and bring not his hore heade down to the graue in peace Prudence coÌ„sisteth in knowledge of things good euill ⧠Of wisdome The signification THe house which standeth on the rocke signifieth the stedfast beliefe of the faythfull The other which standeth in the valy and on sandy ground is the church of Antichrist and all popishe preaching whiche house by violence of the water which falleth froÌ„ the heigth ouer turneth it and so lieth voyde and empty Seperate them that do craftely flatter thee froÌ„ those that do faithfully loue thee least the ill men haue most profite by thee By these examples it is manifest that God hath â—lwayes and at all tymes preserued not onely those rulers and maiestrates the which haue vsed and kept hys preceptes wyth prudent wisdome and iust dealing but also as well the poore and simple hath not onely bene vnto those realmes a most prosperous sauiour in sending aboundaunce of all fertility but in the ende an euerlasting redemer vnto enlesse ioyes and most happy felicity Consider the excellent wisdome of Salomon in doyng iustice betwene the two women that stroue for the quicke childe when as the one of them through her necligence smothered her childe and by craft ment to lay her fact on the other to auoyde the blame was reproued and the true mother of the liuing childe was knowen Also God gaue SalomoÌ„ wisdome and vnderstanding exceding much and a large hart euen as the sand that is on the sea shore and Salomons wisdome exceded the wisedome of all the children of the East countrey and all the wisedome of Egipt for he was wiser then all men yea theÌ„ Ethan the Ezrahite and Hemam Chalcol and Darda the sonnes of
Mahole and hys name was spoken of throughout all nations on euery side and Salomon spake 3000. problemes and his soÌ„ges were a thousand and fiue And the Queene of Saba hearing the fame of SalomoÌ„ concerning the name of the Lord came to proue him wyth harde questions and she came to Ierusalem with a very great trayne but wheÌ„ she sawe y e goodly building and costly apparell of y e ministers and hys drinke burnt sacrifices she sayd vnto y e king it was a true word that I heard in mine owne land of thy sayings of thy wisdome howbeit I beleued it not till I came and saw it wyth mine eyes And beholde the one halfe was not tolde me for thy wisdome and prosperitie exceedeth the fame which I heard of thee happy are thy men and happy are these thy seruants which stande euer before thee and heare thy wysedome And thou Esdras after thy wisedome of thy God that is in thyne hand set Iudges and arbitrers by my authoritie to iudge all the people that is beyond the water euen all such as know the lawe of thy God and them that knowe it not those see that ye teach And whosoeuer will not fulfill the lawe of thy God and the kinges lawe let hym haue hys iudgement wythout delaye whether it be vnto death or to be rooted out or to be condemned in goodes or to be put in prison Thys notable example seemeth good yea and to be well considered of amonge the true professours of Christian religion firste to câ—nsider what a horrible thing it is to goe about to peruert the scriptures and sacred worde of God with manes lawes and inuentions Secondarily what a haynous offence it is before God in that the subiect shall eyther wilfully or coÌ„temptuously go about to make ordinauÌ„ces lawes contrary to the precept and commaundement of that the which the Prince hath determined by generall counsaile and consent of y e whole realme so long as it is to the aduauncement of Gods glory true religioÌ„ Now when I asked my counselers how these things might be brought to a good ende there was one by vs excelent in wisedome whose good will truth and faithfulnes hath oft bene shewed and proued which was also the principall and next vnto the king Aman by name which certified vs howe that in all hands there was scatered abroade a rebellious folke that made statutes and lawes agaynst all other people and haue alwayes dispised the proclaymed commaundementes of kinges how y t for this cause it were not to be suffred that such rulers should coÌ„tinue by you not to be pin down seing now we perceaue the same that this people alone are contrary to euery man vsing strange and other maner of lawes and withstand our statutes and doinges and go about to to stablish shrewd matters that our kingdome should neuer come to good estate and stedfastnes Therfore haue we commaunded by such as is next vnder vs appoynting Aman which is ordayned to roote out with the sworde all such aduersaries and that there shall be no mercy shewed and none suche spared By these meanes kinges raigned in honour and God to blessed them that all that euer they went about prospered so long as they rebelled not agaynste his testimonies and lawes thâ— which he commaunded them to kepe And also the suâ—â—dcees for that they obeyed there prince with godly 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 so long God did also as well defende them from oppression as he did the prince or Kinâ— from 〈◊〉 heuennes and subâ—â—â—sion Shall a man be more iust then God or shall a man be 〈◊〉 then his maker Beholde he founde no truth in his seruauntes and in his angells there was folly how much more in them that dwell in houses of clay and whose fundation is but dust whiche shall be consumed as it were with a mothe They shall be smitten from the Morning to the Euening yea they shall perish for euer when no man thinketh thereon Is not theyr royaltie gone awaye with them they shall dye truely and not in wisdome Sould he that bableth much be commended therin Should men geue eare vnto thee onely Thou wilt laugh other men to scorne and shall nobody mocke thee agayne Wilt thou say vnto God the thing that thou takest in haÌ„d is perfect and that thou art cleane in his sight Oh that God would speake and open his lippes agaynst thee that he might show thee out of his secret wisedome why he rewâ—rdeth thee double as he appoynted to do then shouldest thou know that God had forgotten thee because of thy sinne Would God ye kept your toung for then might ye be taken for wise men And be no leaders of the simple into strange errours folish imaginations of men what plague can be greater vnto that realme where so many sectes of religion is vsed then the sufferance of such to continue truely no plague more greater and no offence more haynouseâ— not onely agaynste the prince but most chiefest against the almighty Wast y u made before the hilles oâ— Hast thou hearde the secrete counsail of God that all wisedom is to litle for thee Who geueth sure wisedome or stedfast vnderstanding Commeth it through thy wisedome Obey thou the Lord for the feare of the Lord is the begining of wisedome â—f good vnderstanding haue all these that do thereafter My sonne if thou wilt receaue my wordes and kepe my commaundementes bâ— thee thaâ— thou wilt encline thine hart vnto wisdome apply thine harte so vnderstanding For if thou criest after wisdome and calleâ— for knowledge if thou sekest after her as after money and diggest for her as for creature then shalt thou vnderstande the feare of the lord finde the knowledge of God For it is the Lord that geueth wisdome out of his mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding and he hideth vp health for the righteous Well is him that findeth wisedome and obtayneth vnderstanding Wisdome is more worth then precious stones and all thinges that thou canst desire are not to be compared vnto her heare O ye children the fatherly exhortation and take good heede that ye may learne wisedome for I haue geuen you a good doctrine forsake not my law Wisedome resteth in the hart of him that hath vnderstanding and it shall be knowne among them that are vnlearned Whoso loueth wisedome mâ—keth hys father a glad man Moreouer thus sayth the Lord of hostes beware of the vengeance that hangeth ouer you and call for mourning wines and send for wise women that they come shortely and singe a mourning song of you that the teares may fall out of your eyes Thus sayth the Lord also let not the wise man reioyce in his wisdome nor the strong man in hys strength neither the rich man in his riches but who 〈◊〉 will reioyce let him reioyce in this that he vnderstandeth and knoweth me for I am the Lord
He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall finde it Men can better suffer to be denied then to be deceiued Where wrōg is committed by two manner of wayes either by force or by fraud fraud belongeth to a foxe force to a Lion both the one and the other is to the nature of man wonderfull contrary for that I thinke very necessary some history to be spoken of concerning brotherly loue the which ought to be and also the misery the which eftsons happeneth to malicious myndes and seekers of others harmes I finde that in the dayes of Darius the sonne of Ahasuerues king of Caldey there rayned also one Phalaris a tyraunt ouer Scicilia the which vsed to punish euill offenders very cruelly and it fortuned that on a tyme there came vnto him one Palarius a craftes man of brasse or as it may be more plainlier spokē a brasier such a workman as was very politike in his occupacion The sayde Palarius desiring to please Phalaris not onely to get vnto himselfe some great praise but also hoping to haue had some large reward made a Bull of brasse being hollow wyth a doore to open in the one side whereas all those men that were condempned shoulde go in to be tormented and when they were within the doore to be closed fier to be made vnder the Bull so that the crye the which the offenders made sounded through the sayde Bull in such hidious sort as if there had bene a great number of Bulles because of certaine ingens that were within enclosed Whē Phalaris saw the crueltie of the crafts man against those mē condemned among the which there were some of his natiue countrey as also strangers forthwith he caused Palarius to be tormented in that sort the which he had ordayned for others it is therfore necessary that among Christiās there should be christian gouernment the one to loue the other not the one to hate the other For by such meanes the worst end of the staffe happeneth to the beginner Yf thy neighbour be an offender and such a one as will not be reformed then let the lawes prouided serue for his punishment but be thou no imaginer of euill also let not there be too whot loue the one with the other least there happē as sodaine a colde but liue and loue by measure I reade of one Candalus king of Lidus the which loued his wife so much because of her beutie and fayrenes that on a time he shewed her vnto one Gigy the which to fore had bene his companion and fellow all naked to the end that he should thereby praise her beutie and fairenes reporting her to be one of the personablest women that then were liuing in so much that shortly after his fellow Gigy committed adultery with the wife of Candalus and so the sayde Candalus thereby lost both his wife and kingdome In this Candalus time was liuing the prophet Daniell Let vs loue therefore effecteously supporting one an other and looke that thou neuer do vnto an other man the thing that thou wouldest not an other man should do vnto thee eate thy bread with the hungry and poore and couer the naked with thy clothes set thy bread and wine vpon the buriall of the righteous and do not thou eate and drinke thereof wyth the sinners aske euer coūsayle of the wise be alwayes thankfull vnto God and beseech him y t he will order thy wayes and that whatsoeuer thou deuisest or tahest in hand it may remayne in him Haue we not all one father hath not one God made vs why doth euery one of vs then despise his owne brother and so breake the couenaunt of our fathers Thou shalte not beare false witnes against thy neighbour We which are strōg ought to beare the frailenes of them which are weake and not to stand in our owne conceite but euery man please his neighbour vnto his wealth and edifiyng for Christ pleased not himselfe but as it is written the rebukes of them which rebuke thee fell on me Brethren if any man be fallen by chaunce into any fault ye which are spiritual helpe to amend him in the spirit of meekenes considering thy selfe leaste thou also be tempted Beare ye one an others burthen and so fulfill the law of Christ. I therefore which am in bandes for the Lordes sake exhorte you that ye walke worthy of the vocacion wherewith ye are called in all humblenes of mynde and meekenes and long suffring forbearing one an other through loue and that ye be diligent to keepe the vnitie of the spirit in the bonds of peace being one body and one spirit euen as ye are called in one hope of your calling let there be but one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and father of all which is aboue all through al and in you all If there be among you any consolation in Christ if there be any comfortable loue if there be any felowship in spirit if there be any compassion or mercy fulfil my ioy that ye draw one way hauing one loue being of one accord and of one mynde that nothing be done through strife or vayne glory but that in meekenes of mynde euery man esteme other better then himselfe and that no man consider hys owne but what is meete for others Aske and it shalbe geuen you seeke you shall finde knocke it shalbe opened vnto you for whosoeuer axeth receiueth and he that seketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shalbe opened Be ye therefore discrete and sober that ye may be apte to prayers but aboue all thinges haue feruent loue amonge you for loue couereth the multitude of sinnes be ye harborus one towardes an other and that without grudging as euery mā hath receiued the gift minister the same one towardes an other as good ministers of the manifolde grace of God whosoeuer doth not righteousnes is not of God neither he that loueth not his brother A newe commaundement geue I vnto you that ye loue together as I haue loued you that euē so ye loue one an other by this shall all men know that ye are my desciples This is my commaundement that ye loue together as I haue loued you greater loue then this hath no man then that a man bestow his life for his frendes Thou shalt not fauour the pore nor honour the mighty but in righteousnes shalt thou iudge thy neighbour Thou shalt not go vp and downe as a priuy accuser among the people neither shalt thou stand against the bloude of thy neighbour I am the Lorde thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine hart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour that thou beare not sinne for his sake thou shalt not auenge thy selfe nor be mindefull of wrong against the children of my people but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe I am the Lord ye
shall keepe my commaundementes Let loue be without dissimulation hate that which is euill and cleaue vnto that which is good Be kinde one to an other wyth brotherly loue We shoulde not loue one an other as Cayne which was of the wicked and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his owne workes were euil and his brothers good He that loueth not his brother abideth in death who so euer hateth his brother is a man slayer and ye know that no man slayer hath eternal life abiding in him ¶ Our loue towardes our enemies WE ought to loue our enemies ye haue heard how it is sayd thou shalt loue thine neighbour and hate thine enemy But I saye vnto you loue your enemies blesse them which curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them which do you wrong and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father that is in heauē for he maketh his sunne to arise on the euill and on the good sendeth his raine on the iust and vniust for if ye loue them which loue you what reward shal ye haue do not the publicans likewise and if ye be frendly to your brethren only what singular thinges do ye do not the Publicans also ye shalbe therefore perfect euen as your father which is in heauen is perfect Let not the wrath and gelosye moue thee to follow the wicked and vngodly why the wicked shall haue no posteritie and the candle of the vngodly shalbe put out My sonne feare the Lord and the kyng and keepe no company with them that slide backe from his feare for their destruction shall come sodainly and who knoweth the aduersity that may come of them both Goe not from the doctrine of the elders for they haue learned it of their fathers for of them thou shalt learne vnderstanding so that thou mayst make answere in y e time of neede kindle not the coles of sinners when thou rebukest them least thou be burnt in the fiery flames of their sinnes resist not the face of the blasphemer that he laye not wayte for thy mouth Thy children shalbe taught of God and I will geue them plenteousnes of peace in righteousnes shalt thou be grounded and be farre from oppression for the which thou needest not to be afrayed neither for hinderaunce for it shall not come nigh thee beholde the aliant that was farre from me shall dwell with me and he that ioyneth battayle against thee shall pearish and as for all tongues that shall resist thee in iudgement thou shalte ouercome them and condemne them this is the heritage of the Lordes seruauntes and their righteousnes commeth of me saith the Lord. A wise iudge will order his people with discretion and where a man of vnderstanding beareth rule there goeth it well as the iudge of the people is himselfe euē so are his officers and loke what manner of man the ruler of the Citie is such are they that dwel therein also An vnwise king destroyeth his people but where they that be in authority be men of vnderstanding there the citie prospereth I say vnto you whosoeuer confesseth me before men euen him shall the sonne of man confesse also before the Angels of God he y t denieth me before mē shalbe denied before y e Angels of God whosoeuer speaketh a word against y e sonne of mā it shalbe forgeuē him but vnto him y t blasphemeth the holy ghost it shal not be forgeuen Also when the Apostles of Christ were forbidden to preach they would not but shewed thēselues more obedient vnto God then men such was the enuy of the Iewes to y e professours of God his worde And it came to passe as he sate at meat with them he tooke bread blessed it brake and gaue to thē and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their sight Our Sauiour Christe shewed himselfe after his passion vnto two disciples as they went toward Emas and after that standing in the middest of the eleuēth as they were together saying that he was the light of the world and the sauiour of all those which beleued in him such loue had our Sauiour towardes the enuious Iewes and yet they woulde not beleue Also when the martyr S. Steuen rebuked the stifnecked Iewes for their cruell oppression and putting to death of al the prophets before the comming of that iust whome ye haue now betrayed and murthered and ye also haue receaued a law by the ordinaunce of Angels and haue not kept it and when they heard his wordes they gnashed their teeth vppon him and ranne all at once and stoned him In like sorte hath the enemies of Gods Gospell sought to kill to destroy the professours of hys truth God graunt for his mercy if it be his will to open their eyes that they may perceiue the truth and sory their for offences Who so euer shall not receiue you nor will heare your preaching whē ye depart be out of that house or that citie shake of the dust of your feete Truely I say vnto you it shalbe easier for the lande of Zodom and Gomorra in the day of iudgement then for that Citie There is nothing so close that shal not be opened and nothing so hide that shall not be knowen a worde spoken in due season is like apples of golde in a grauen worke of siluer Be not wise in your own opinions recōpence to no man euil for euill prouide afore hand thynges honest in the sight of all men if it be possible howbeit of your part haue peace with all men dearely beloued auenge not your selues but geue roome to y e wrath of God for it is written vengeaunce is myne I wil reward sayth the Lord. Therfore if thyne enemy hunger feede him if he thirst geue hym drinke for in so doing thou shalt heape cooles of fier vppon his head be not ouercome of euill but ouercome euill with goodnes When the profit Dauid heard that an Amelikite had slayne his enemy King Saule he was very sory and mourned for him and caused y e Amelikite for his rewarde also to be slayne because he had killed the Lordes annoynted When the Lord purposed to destroy Zodom and Gomorra Abraham sayde vnto hym Lorde what if there be 50. righteous wilte thou spare the rest for their sakes so that it came to the number of tenne and there coulde none be founde but onely Lotte and his householde the which were preserued thus oughte euery man to forgeue and to pray for his ennemy and so shall we bee the seruauntes of God ¶ Of fayth and the wonderfull working of the same and stedfast beliefe of the fathers in olde tyme. The signification THe man in armour signifieth all stedfast beleuers of the veritie being armed with constant zeale of Christianitie and weaponed with the shielde of liuely faith the spere of continuaunce and the